Help with everyday activities
Help with everyday activities
Does the older adult need help with chores, such as housecleaning, yard work, grocery shopping, or laundry? Some grocery and drug stores will take orders over the phone or online and deliver the items to a person’s home, and someone you know may have a housekeeper or gardener to recommend. Laundry and dry-cleaning services that pick up and deliver clothes are another option.
Older adults may also need help with personal care. This includes everyday activities, also called “activities of daily living,” such as bathing, dressing, grooming, using the toilet, eating, and moving around — for example, getting out of bed and into a chair. To provide support for personal care, a relative, friend, or trained aide could help for a short time each day.
Some older adults, especially people who live alone, simply need someone to check on them. You can ask family, neighbors, or nearby friends to drop by on a regular basis to make sure the older person has everything they need.
Friendly visitor and senior companion services
Some organizations have volunteers who regularly pay short visits (less than two hours) to older adults. The volunteer can provide support, assistance, and companionship.
What to know about costs:
- Volunteer services are available at no cost. You can also get this type of service from home health agencies for a fee.
- Medicare, Medicaid, and private health insurance generally do not cover these services. Some long-term care insurance plans help pay for companion visits.
Nearby senior centers and your state or local government can help connect you with volunteers near where you live.
